ndary: Simple 64K Memory Upgrade for Atari 600XL

{Recovered Atari Sector}
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ndary

Post by ndary on May 6, 2017 at 5:56pm
Hi All,

i love the Atari 600XL, its small and compact.. i can easily carry one in my backpack...
but it come with 16K of memory.. so i made a simple instruction (one page instructions) on how you can upgrade it to a 64k (fairly cheap)

all you need are two 4464 or 441464 Drams, they can be bought cheaply on Ebay
Remove the two 4416 and insert the two 4464 Drams. and solder 3 wires and shown in the image below

enjoy

​

8bitbaz

Post by 8bitbaz on May 6, 2017 at 5:58pm
This looks like a work of genius.

Add a monitor socket and you've got an 800XL!

Big thanks for that, ndary.

Anyone up for giving this a try?
​

ndary

Post by ndary on May 6, 2017 at 6:00pm
the PAL version comes with a 5DIN monitor port.. not like the USA version that comes only with AV output..

all my 600XL are upgraded to 64k, since its a must if you want to put the ULTIMATE 1MB or Antonia upgrades inside.

Nir​

8bitbaz

Post by 8bitbaz on May 6, 2017 at 6:12pm
I never knew that, Nir.

I always thought they lacked a monitor socket on ALL 600XLs but I can see you're right now, of course.

Excellent - and as you say, being smaller, much more compact for taking around to your friend's or to the Retro / Atari Meet.

Cool upgrade, fella.

Many thanks for sharing that with us.

I'd love someone on the Sector to have a go at upgrading their 600XL and let us all know how quickly/easily this can be achieved.​

admin

yep, my 600XL has a monitor port. so this may be an option for upgrade. really nice upgrade Nir, and very clear pics.

does the board architecture limit this upgrade to 64k? my understanding is 600/800xl boards can't handle more than 64k without physical hardware upgrading?
ie - anything above 64k requires more than just ram chips to make it work?​

ndary

Post by ndary on May 6, 2017 at 6:27pm
correct,

if you want to go over 64k you need to add to the MMU some logics..
the upgrade above is the 1st step.. you must adapt the 600xl to be 800xl compatible (like above) if you want to install any memory upgrade to it.

like: Rambo, Newell, Ultimate 1mb, Antonia 4MB etc..

Nir​

Baker

Post by Baker on May 6, 2017 at 7:30pm
Lack of a monitor port is the only reason I chose my 600XL over my 800XL to be salvage for my other two (1200XL and the one not for salvage). I'd rather keep the 600XL as my second, since it sits so wonderfully right on top of my 1200XL. But hacking up the case and motherboard for a monitor jack or video outputs isn't for me, something I've managed to avoid with my 1200XL so far, though the PBI mod will end that. The 600XL case needs far more work than the 800XL too. So the 800XL will be my second computer, and The 600XL is parts for the other 2. But I will keep my eye out for a PAL 600XL now!​

admin

what about buying a pal 600xl? will your monitor/tv handle pal signals?​

Baker

Post by Baker on May 8, 2017 at 10:14pm
what about buying a pal 600xl? will your monitor/tv handle pal signals?
Sure. I have a PAL converted 1200XL, remember? Read the last sentence in my post above. It's not going to change the fate of my current 600XL though... ​

Post by Baker on Dec 19, 2017 at 1:17pm
I have officially decided to get a PAL 600Xl, sooner or later, since once my 800XL is restored, it's going to be made a gift to an old fellow-Atarian friend of mine. And I still like the idea of having a 600XL sitting atop a 1200XL ​

8bitbaz

Post by 8bitbaz on Dec 19, 2017 at 7:10pm
Sweet as, Matt.

Kinda little brother hitching a ride on big brother... and I daresay that small 600XL footprint will fit within the area of the rear-casing of a 1200XL..?​

Baker

Post by Baker on Dec 19, 2017 at 7:52pm
yep, fits nearly perfect on the rear casing, just slight over-hang of the smoke-plastic bar above the function keys, if it's even in the back.​